TORRINGTON — A state police lieutenant who fatally shot a knife-wielding man with Alzheimer's on Route 8 in July was justified in using deadly force, the Litchfield state's attorney has found.

Lt. Clayton Brown "reasonably and justifiably believed" that he and stopped motorists were in imminent danger, David Shepack stated in an 8-page report released Monday.

The 78-year-old man who died, Frank Escribano, repeatedly advanced on the state trooper while brandishing a knife "in a threatening and proficient manner," the report concludes.

He earlier had pulled a knife on his sister and told her he was going outside to "make the cops shoot him," it states.

Brown, who did not have a Taser, retreated several times — four of them by backing up his patrol car. In all, he traveled nearly 255 feet in an attempt to get away from Escribano, the report states. When the man came within 10 feet of the trooper, Brown shot him once in the chest.

An autopsy showed that Escribano had Alzheimer's disease and cerebral arteriosclerosis.

According to the report, Brown, the commanding officer at the Troop B barracks in North Canaan, was driving a patrol car north near exit 43 about 9 a.m. July 12 when he saw an "elderly man walking along the highway shoulder."

Brown, beeped his horn in an attempt to get the man's attention, it states. The man, later identified as Escribano, ignored the horn and continued to walk north, Brown told investigators.

Brown, who was in uniform, parked the police car, got out and walked to within 12 to 14 feet of the man, he told police. He called out to Escribano, who "turned around quickly, crouched down, and reached into his right side waistband area with both hands," the report states. Brown drew his gun.

Escribano pulled out a large knife — its blade was almost six inches long — and would not comply with Brown's command to drop it. It was the first of a half-dozen times Escribano would ignore his orders, the report states.

Escribano quickly flipped the knife in the air and caught it, handling it in what Brown said was "an extremely proficient manner." He then thrust the knife in a stabbing motion, after which Brown got into the police car and backed up, according to the report. Escribano continued to advance.

The trooper again got out and ordered him to drop the knife, but Escribano "rapidly charged at Lt. Brown, reaching the left front area of the cruiser," the report states. Brown got back in the car and backed up a second time.

He backed up two more times, once blocking the entrance ramp and then travel lanes of Route 8, the report states. In addition to getting away from Escribano, he wanted to block traffic, he told investigators.

Brown got out of the police car, his gun drawn, and for the fifth time yelled for Escribano to drop the knife. Escribano refused, walked to front passenger side of the car and then started coming around the front of the cruiser, Brown said.

Brown continued to yell as loudly as he could for him to drop the knife, he told investigators, but Escribano only turned to face him. Brown told investigators he had nowhere to go; he moved to the left front fender.

Escribano began flipping the knife in a rapid motion, catching it with his right hand while staring at Brown, the lieutenant told investigators. Brown fired once.

"After the shot, the officer appeared very shaken up," one witness told police. The man was one of seven motorists who saw at least part of the encounter. The witnesses confirmed that Brown had tried to avoid using deadly force by retreating.

"I don't know what else the trooper could have done," another witness said.

Escribano's nephew, a retired Watertown police officer, told investigators that his uncle was "always looking to stir things up with family members to get a reaction," the report states.

He also said, "I feel bad for the State Trooper, because I know that Frank must have pushed him to shoot him, that is something Frank would have done for a reaction."